Patentable/Patents/US-9639065
US-9639065

Method and electronic device for displaying operating state information

PublishedMay 2, 2017
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

An information processing method and an electronic device are provided. The method includes displaying a first identifier indicating time information on a display unit of an electronic device; acquiring first operating state information indicating a first operating state of a first functional unit of the electronic device; determining a first display state of the first identifier based on the first operating state information; and controlling the first identifier to be displayed at the first display state to indicate that the first functional unit is in the first operating state. With the method and electronic device of the disclosure, the display area of the display unit can be efficiently used without occupying a specified display area on the display unit to indicate operating state information of the electronic device.

Patent Claims
6 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. An information processing method comprising: displaying a first watch hand identifier in a first display state to indicate time information on a display unit of an electronic device; acquiring first operating state information indicating a first operating state of a first functional unit of the electronic device; determining a second display state of the first watch hand identifier corresponding to the first operating state information and different from the first display state, according to a preset correspondence between operating states of the first functional unit and display states of the first watch hand identifier; and changing the first display state of the first watch hand identifier to the second display state to not only indicate the time information but also indicate that the first functional unit is in the first operating state, wherein the display state of the first watch hand identifier comprises at least one of color, brightness, size, and shape of the first watch hand identifier.

Plain English Translation

An electronic device displays time and operating status information using a single visual element: a watch hand identifier. This method displays the watch hand (initially) with a certain color, brightness, size, or shape to show the current time. The device monitors the operating state of a functional unit (e.g., battery, WiFi). When the functional unit's state changes (e.g., low battery), the watch hand's display changes to a pre-defined different color, brightness, size or shape. This second display state indicates both the current time AND the functional unit's current operating state (e.g., low battery), leveraging a preset mapping between operating states and watch hand display states.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first operating state information comprises radio frequency signal strength, remaining capacity, remaining storage space, or data processing progress of the electronic device.

Plain English Translation

Building upon the method of displaying time and operating status using a single watch hand identifier, the operating state information being displayed includes radio frequency signal strength (e.g. WiFi signal strength), remaining battery capacity, remaining storage space, or the progress of data processing within the electronic device. Thus, the visual indicator (the modified watch hand) can inform the user about connectivity, power, storage, or activity status in addition to the current time.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising: acquiring second operating state information of a second operating state of the first functional unit, in a case that the operating state of the first functional unit is changed from the first operating state to the second operating state; determining a sixth display state of the first watch hand identifier corresponding to the second operating state information according to the preset correspondence; and s changing display state of the first watch hand identifier to the sixth display state.

Plain English Translation

Expanding on the method of displaying time and operating status using a single watch hand identifier, if the operating state of a functional unit changes *again* (from a first state to a second state), the watch hand identifier is updated a *second* time. Specifically, the system acquires the *new* operating state information corresponding to the second state of the functional unit. Based on the preset correspondence between operating states and watch hand display states, a *new* display state (sixth display state) for the watch hand is determined. The watch hand's display is then changed to this new sixth display state, reflecting the latest operating state change.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. An electronic device, comprising: a first functional unit; a display unit configured to display a first watch hand identifier in a first display state to indicate time information; and a processor configured to: acquire first operating state information indicating a first operating state of the first functional unit; determine a second display state of the first watch hand identifier corresponding to the first operating state information and different from the first display state, according to a preset correspondence between operating states of the first functional unit and display states of the first watch hand identifier; and control the display unit to change the first display state of the first watch hand identifier to the second display state to not only indicate the time information but also indicate that the first functional unit is in the first operating state, wherein the display state of the first watch hand identifier comprises at least one of color, brightness, size, and shape of the first watch hand identifier.

Plain English Translation

An electronic device displays time and operating status information using a single visual element: a watch hand identifier. The device includes a functional unit (e.g., battery, WiFi), a display unit showing the watch hand with a certain color, brightness, size, or shape to indicate the current time, and a processor. The processor monitors the operating state of the functional unit. When the functional unit's state changes, the processor changes the watch hand's display to a different pre-defined color, brightness, size or shape. This second display state indicates both time AND the functional unit's state, leveraging a preset mapping between operating states and watch hand display states.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the first operating state information further comprises radio frequency signal strength, remaining capacity, remaining storage space, or data processing progress of the electronic device.

Plain English Translation

In the electronic device displaying time and operating status using a single watch hand identifier, the operating state information that triggers the watch hand's display change includes radio frequency signal strength (e.g. WiFi signal strength), remaining battery capacity, remaining storage space, or the progress of data processing within the electronic device. Thus, the watch hand's color, brightness, size, or shape changes to inform the user about connectivity, power, storage, or activity status, in addition to showing the current time.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to: acquire second operating state information of a second operating state in a case that the operating state of the first functional unit is changed from the first operating state to the second operating state; search for a sixth display state corresponding to the second operating state information according to the preset correspondence; and change display state of the first watch hand identifier to the sixth display state.

Plain English Translation

In the electronic device displaying time and operating status using a single watch hand identifier, if the operating state of a functional unit changes *again* (from a first state to a second state), the processor updates the watch hand identifier a *second* time. Specifically, the processor acquires the *new* operating state information. Based on the preset correspondence between operating states and watch hand display states, the processor determines a *new* display state (sixth display state) for the watch hand. The processor then changes the watch hand's display to this new sixth display state, reflecting the latest operating state change.

Classification Codes (CPC)

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

September 24, 2014

Publication Date

May 2, 2017

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